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Red zone interceptions prove costly for WR

TURBOTVILLE — Warrior Run gave it all it had Friday night at Defender Stadium, trading the first three scores of the game and scoring just before the half to make it an eight-point game. A few red zone interceptions thrown by Remington Corderman and the big play abilities from Danville were too much in the Ironmen’s 35-20 win.

The Defenders did not show any sign of backing down and were ready to play the same Danville team that ended Warrior Run’s season a year ago, giving the team all the confidence it needed to prove the talent on the field.

“We came in here looking for a win, we were 2-0 and it was Danville. We wanted to prove a point and beat a good football team. It was a great game, we just made a few too many mistakes,” Warrior Run receiver Riley Daubert said.

“It’s definitely a sickening feeling,” Warrior Run quarterback Remington Corderman said. “We know we can play with them, we just had mistakes that need to be cleaned up.”

Danville came out swinging first as it held Warrior Run to a three-and-out, only allowing three yards before a punt. Then the Ironmen went 75 yards in four plays when Kayden Riley hit a wide open Ian Persing for a 32 yards touchdown pass.

That didn’t faze Riley Daubert who was burnt on the play as he took the ensuing kickoff at his own five yard line, took two cuts and got past Riley the kicker for a 95 yard score and got the Defender Stadium on its feet.

“I was really mad because they scored first so I said ‘let’s shock them,'” Daubert said. “It felt good to be able to score on them right away too.”

The Riley-Persing combo worked for the Ironmen offense, Persing totaled 182 yards on eight catches and two long touchdowns. Warrior Run just did not have the answer for the high flying spread offense, but it hung around to keep the game interesting for all four quarters.

“There was no give up, we fought to the bitter end,” Warrior Run coach Chris Long said. “We just didn’t make enough plays. There were some plays we could have made, but (Danville) did.”

The Ironmen’s balanced play calling was enough to be a few plays ahead of Warrior Run’s defense. Just when it seemed the Defenders could stop one player, another play would be called and the next man made the play. Just when Warrior Run slowed down the passing attack, Danville unleashed its senior running back, Jagger Dressler (19-171, TD).

Warrior Run had the opportunity to tie the game just before the half. Its defense and a few Danville penalties pushed the Ironmen back to its own two. On a fourth and 43, the punt was shanked and gave the Defenders favorable field position inside the 20. Corderman hit Nathan Michael on a toe-drag catch at the 11 and was feeling like they were going to punch it in. The next play Corderman rolled right and tried for Daubert in the back of the end zone, but Danville sniffed it out and picked off the pass.

The Defenders had another chance in the third quarter. After stopping Danville deep in its own territory, Warrior Run looked to even up the score from the Ironmen 32 yard line. A 10 yard pass to Daubert and a facemask at the end of the play, followed by a 10 yard run up the middle from Denver Beachel had Warrior Run on the 15 yard line. Corderman took the snap and surveyed the end zone, staring down Daubert too long and was picked off.

Danville capitalized on a 13 yard pass to Jaydon Diven on its next possession. But Warrior Run would not go away as Corderman and Daubert connected for a 61 yard pass three plays later.

“Three interceptions in the red zone. That’s my bad. I missed a few of the reads and have to clean that up. But we just have to keep moving forward to the next play,” a disappointed Corderman said.

Missing its bruising running style Friday, limited Warrior Run to just 115 yards on 25 carries and forced the Defenders to show its passing abilities, which might have been what Warrior Run needed to get some revenge on the Ironmen.

“We had a tough go in the run game. Their linebackers were making plays and we had a tough time getting to the second level, we didn’t have the style change like we did in the first two games. Had we gotten the run game going better, it could have loosened up the pass plays more. And we had to force things,” Long said.

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